A new hobby

A new hobby

I've always had a desire to learn to sew and I recently found a lovely class where, after making a basic bag in the first class, we could make whatever we liked for the remaining three weeks with our teachers assistance. I choose to make a tea dress from the Great British Sewing Bee book (season one), it was a little too big for me but I learnt so many techniques.I was going to alter it but I was just so proud of my first project I decided to make it again (and I had bought far to much fabric).  The second dress is nearly finished and I'm just waiting for my new sewing machine to arrive so I can insert the zip, I'm currently using a john lewis mini pink machine which is great but now I think I'm ready for a grown up machine.

I wasn't brave enough to use Cath Kidson fabric but I did buy some buttons

I made this little brooch with some left over fabric and a vintage button and a little help from pinterest, and my cuttlebug was so quick cutting out the circles.

Here is a dress I made for one of my best friends little girls 1st birthday, the gorgeous pattern is the good deeds dress and was ideal for a learner like me.

 and a quick birthday card (well not so quick) made using my silhouette

Finally a belated 2nd birthday for Miss Maggie, she was poorly on her birthday and had to stay in the vets but we made up for a week later (she didn't seem to impressed).

Thanks for popping by

Kathy x

Some fun photos of Maggie

Here are some photos I've taken of maggie lately 

Looking over the very beautiful County Down from scrabo country park

Cruising in her new bed

"Can I please go on a summer holiday?"

Sleepy head

A walk in the forest

 

I made these on my cameo as a Thank you for being invited to the ulster Tatler awards, we had such an amazing night, especially as we were sitting with a couple of the Irish rugby players :-) I made the smaller card but as it didn't have much room to write inside, I increased the size to make a bigger one. I love this design for quick thank you cards

Thanks for popping by 

Love kathy and maggie x

Roller Derby

Roller Derby  

I couldn't believe it when my two favourite digi stamp designers teamed up to have a competition together. The competition consisted of TSC and Simply Betty providing a Roller Derby image, unfortunately as it is only a week long comp I decided realistically I'd only have time for one image. I choose Bettys image because, well she was my fav :-) The condition was just to use black, hot pink and lime green in the card.

I knew in my head what I wanted to do and I think I got there eventually, although in hindsight which is a great thing I would have used black card for the base. I used my cameo quite a lot for this card including the stepper card as I wanted to add my vinyl text to some acetate.

 I used patterned paper from my scrap pile which is huge,and coloured the image with promarkers. The skull and ribbon also came from old stash and I added some black gems for continuity. 

I really hope you like it.

Its difficult to see but I deconstructed Bettys image slightly in the software to cut the helmet, knee/elbow pads and skates from the same vinyl. It took a bit of work and was very fiddly but I think it looks well. 

Miss Maggie

Shes not sure what to make of her award, she came 9th out of 22 dogs which wasn't bad for a dog who did no training. The dog that won is off to a Crufts qualifier!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges please:

http://thestampingchef.oo.gd/Gallery/index.php?/categories/flat
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/challenge-21.html
http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/challenge-51-anything-goes.html

Surfs up

Surfs up

The stamping chef very generously gave us this image for a weekly challenge, I don't often enter TSC challenges simply because the week is over before I've had a chance to do the image justice but I just loved this one so much and had the perfect paper and embellishments.

I used my silhouette cameo to create a stepper card in blue card and the image and sea was coloured using pro-markers. I used a cut/emboss swirl die I bought in a sale (it was reduced to £1.99, what a bargain) to create the waves, The sentiment was a freebie stamp I got last month free with a magazine and the paper was also a magazine freebie some time ago. The georgeous embellishment is part of a set I bought a few years ago in a craft shop on holiday in Holland. 

I love how the surf board turned out

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-139-anything-goes.html

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/belli-challenge-175-summer.html

http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/designers-choice-challenge/dcc731-water-element/

http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/pollycraft-challenge-4-lisas-challenge.html

Thanks for popping by 

Kathy xox

Spika the bad mermaid

Spika the bad mermaid

Hi,

This month Simply Betty gave us the option of a good or a bad mermaid as our generous freebie, and as my last few cards have been sunny and colourful I thought something on the dark side would be fun, so I choose Spika the bad mermaid (I didn't use the sentiment that read 'bad to the gills' just because I couldn't squeeze it in). Here she is making sure no-one gets their hands on the sunken treasure.

I really wanted to challenge myself to colour hair a bit more realistically with pro-markers, so I followed an excellent tutorial by Donna Marie in her facebook group and although I've a very long way to go I think I'm definitely heading in the right direction. I added some green stickles to the scales on her skin (because a card isn't a card without sparkle)

I really wanted to add a treasure chest but after searching my stash (I'm still sure i have one somewhere) I headed to the sil store and bought this lovely template. I cut the wood out of 2 different shades of brown and the treasure from some left over glitter card. The tiny lock I coloured with metallic pro-markers. The treasure I made up of gold glitter card, sticky pearls, coloured gems, plastic coins and the fish came from a packet of jolee stickers. 

I returned to my trusty cuttlebug for the photo corner which I cut out of brown card and coloured with metallic pro-markers. The patterned paper I used has been in my stash forever and day so it was nice that it matched perfectly. 

I just hope Betty likes what I've done with Spika, theres some seriously amazing enteries for this challenge and if you get a change to look at blog http://simplybettystamps.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/good-vs-bad-facebook-challenge.html

Miss Maggie

Not so impressed with using it as a board of shame

"Thats better now FEED ME" (puppy dog eyes)

I found this chalk board today in Dunelm mill for £2.99 and thought it would be perfect for a notice board for Maggie (no more post it notes). This is the first thing I've made with vinyl so I'm really happy with how it turned out. 

Maybe Maggie shouldn't have gone to spec savers

I'd like to enter the following challenges please

http://simplybettystamps.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/good-vs-bad-facebook-challenge.html

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/challenge-174-all-at-sea.html

http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/show-us-those-coloring-skills.html

http://simplychallengedchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/july-30th-challenge.html

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/challenge-18.html

Thank you so much for having a look, and I love reading comments if you have time to leave one xox

Simply Betty Summer Fairy take 2

Simply Betty Summer Fairy take 2 

I love how non-card makers think that it only takes a matter of minutes to create a card, my lovely boyfriend asked me to make a 40th birthday for his friends wife, for that night (and bearing in mind I received the request when I was still in work).I do love when he asks though as it isnt very often.

My original plan was to use my lovely cameo to cut out a simple 40 (I just learned how to do this recently) and put some nice background paper behind it, then I remembered the second Summer Fairy I had coloured for her last challenge. I'm so happy with how it turned out, especially as I'm not one to create under pressure. It might even be my favourite so far.

I coloured Summer with pro-markers and added some stickles to her wings, I added a little blue to her wings and love the effect it made, especially with the stickles. To give her a more 3D effect i gently rolled out her wings, only sticking down her body so it looked like she was flying. 

Miss Maggie

Miss Maggie has been zonked out in the hot weather so there hasn't been to much craic from her, HOWEVER we did take her for a walk in the forest were she managed to get her paws covered in mud, then she got kicked out of the pub (that was my fault I didn't see the sign that said no dogs in the beer garden!!). I still cant believe shes been in our lives an entire year (on the 11th July).

So proud of her muddy paws

My beautiful girl

First and last orders for us

'don't you think its time you get me a new bed?....in pink this time please'

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

http://simplychallengedchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/july-30th-challenge.html (I hope my cut out, fairy and gems count as lots of embellishments :-))

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-173-3d-it.html

http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-232-summer.html x

http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-165-anything-with-wings.html

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/new-challenge-its-girl-thing.html

Thanks very much for popping by and if you have an extra minute I love reading your comments 

Kathy x

A baby card for one of my dearest friends

A baby card for one of my dearest friends

One of my bestest friends had a brand new baby called Cara which is Irish for friend, so I had to make her a very special card for her first born. My friend loves simple but elegant (if you look back I also made her wedding invites) and I love the simplicity of word cards so I thought I'd have a go on my cameo with a little help from my FB friends and youtube. I found making this just as challenging as any other cards I have made as I've had to get a handle on how the software works. I really think she'll like it.

without the flash

I cut the glitter card with my cameo, it took awhile to workout how to download the font to my computer and then create the image I wanted, but after lots of trial and error I got there and I just know my friend will love it, and I love my cameo, especially now that I can create my own unique cuts. 

I added the cut image onto onto some cream card, added a crochet flower (a lovely gift from Wendy in our craft swap) and a button. My friends Mother passed away when she was a teenager and a couple of years ago my she gave me her Mothers button jar, although all the button got mixed up I still like to think this may have been one of hers. x

The flash really highlights the glitter 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-

http://www.abcchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/abc35-anything-goes.html

http://createdwithlovechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/cwlc-48-for-girls.html

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/mim147-with-saturated-canary.html

http://anyoneforanya.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/glitter-galore.html

http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-47-kis-keep-it-simple.html

Thanks for popping by and if you'd like to leave feedback I'd love to that 

Kathy and Maggie  xox

Simply B summer fairy challenge

Simply B summer fairy challenge

When I saw the gorgeous image Betty was giving us for this months challenge I knew I had to take part. The condition of the challenge was to use a different background, not stamped or paper. I knew that I wanted to draw a flower for summer to dance on, but the problem was, apart from doodling I haven't drawn since I was at school and I wasnt that great then.In addition it definately didnt help having Oliver Jeffers (world famous childrens illistrator) was in my G.C.S.E. art class!! 

All this aside I gave it a go, a simple sunflower, and I'm so glad I did because I love how it turned out. 

I had originally coloured Summer in blues and green (promarkers) but she got lost in the vibrancy of the sunflower so I coloured her again with dark hair and a red dress, for her wings I used ivory with subtle hint of tea green. Off course I had to use stickles on her wings.

I couldn't find any yellow paper in my stash to match the card so I coloured some white paper with promarkers to mat my image and added some yellow gems to the corner. I kept the card clean and simple as the images were so bright.

I really hope you like her, and most of all I hope Betty thinks I did her gorgeous image justice xox

I'd really appreciate any feedback x

Thanks for popping by Kathy and Maggie (the naughty pup who presented me with a dead rabbit yesterday) xox

I'd like to enter her into the following challenges:

http://digisketchchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/in-summertime.html

http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/summer-fun-challenge.html

http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-161-all-things-digital.html

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-13.html

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/flowers.html

Thank You Teacher card

Thank You Teacher Card

I had so much fun making these cards last year for a friend in work, I was more than happy to make her another exactly (well almost) the same for her daughters teacher this year.

Its such a simple card to make and I took my original inspiration from a papercraft magazine last year, the stamp (Wee stamps) was a freebie which is so versatile I've used it alot. 

I coloured her with pro-markers and matched her hair to the little girl it is from. Unfortunately silly me I hadn't written down the colours i'd used so had to start from scratch again. 

The blackboard was simply black card matted onto brown wrapping paper (I didn't have any wood effect paper left but still think it worked) and the letters were cut out with my cuttlebug. I love my new cameo but seem to always use my cuttlebug when I can, its more 'what you see is what you get' and quieter for late night crafting. 

I just finished of with some ribbon and gems, oh and stickles of course, a card isnt a card without stickles :-)

Miss Maggie

We took Maggie to Stormont today for a walk, this her her practicing waiting 2 minutes for her silver award next week. Unfortunately 5 minutes before this she had a sock hanging out of her bottom!!! We dont leave socks lying around anymore so goodness knows where she gets them because this is number 8!!!! 

Looking at this picture I realised shes a dog now and not a puppy anymore. 

Challenges

I'd like to enter the following challenges 

http://stampedblessings.com/2013/06/amusing-challenge-ribbon-or-twine/

http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/june-challenge.html

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-11.html

http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-37.html

Thanks for popping by from Kathy and the sock thief  xox

Just a last minute quickie

I needed to make a quick card to say thankyou to a very kind couple who invited us to the theatre on sunday and as I was reminded, proper edicate is that a thankyou should be sent within 48 hours of the event, so I really didnt have alot of time to make something special, or so I thought.......

I just love how easy it is to make a quick but stylish card with my cameo, I downloaded the template from the store and hey presto my card was cut in about a minute, the hardest part was folding it in half.

I added some thick paper for the insert and placed a square of the gorgeous hey girl paper my friend Wendy sent me in the spring swap to add some interest. I even had time to make an envelope with my crafters companion I bought at christmas and hadn't had time to play with.

I'm so super happy that my spring swap card made top 3 in the digi galore challenge

The play we saw was 'Cant forget about you and it was hilarious, very Belfast and if you ever get a chance to see it you definitely should (prepare to cringe though) x

http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/specific/whats-on/cant-forget-about-you

Thanks for popping by

Kathy x

A very un-easter easter card

 

A very un-easter easter card

I made this card for the Simply Betty February challenge using her lovely free image, we had to choose between a boy and a girl without seeing them first, I let my boyfriend choose and of course he choose the boy (definitely not my usual style). The one condition of the challenge was that no pastel colours were allowed, as soon as I read this I decided to give sepia a go. I had found a promarker tutorial in an old issue of a card making magazine just a few days before, it didn't turn out as I intended, but for a first attempt I'm very happy. After seeing all the amazing entries for the challenge I knew I wouldn't have a hope in winning so just had fun playing.

For the card I coloured the image with promarkers, the patterned paper is cosmo cricket and the ribbon is citrus strip from Anitas. I had fun experimenting with my new sillhoutte cameo which I used to make the eggs, tags and title, all finished off with a card candi and diamond glaze for some depth.

I'd also like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/challenge-87-make-it-manly.html
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/

Miss Maggie

For those of you who like to hear about Miss Maggie, here she is not helping me wash the car. So many people came to say hello to her I think it took me twice as long to get the car clean, its so nice to see the sun starting to make an appearance and the neighbours certainly got quite the welcome home (pet me, fuss me please)

If you thought the last bone was big this is even bigger (he spoils her but at least its lasting more than a few hours)

And my very very favourite photo, shes so elegant and lovely (I know I'm biases)

Thanks for popping by and I really do appreciate your feedback and comments xox

Burlesque Simply Betty 21st Birthday card

 Finally I can show off one of the Burlesque 2 Simply Bettys (http://simplybstamps.net/) I bought in the secret release, they're just so much fun and I'm sure it'll not be long before I make the other 2 into cards. When the 500th person joins her facebook group shes promised a freebie (and she's nearly there).

I was asked to make a card for a friend in work whose niece was turning 21 this week, the card was from the entire family so she'd asked me to make it in A4. I chose this image because it was for a fun loving bubbly girl and what could be more fun than swinging on a star :-)

For this card I found it difficult to get thick enough A3 card and ended up buying a packet of 175 gsm card from Paperchase and sticking two sheets together to form my base, I then layered some black card with the polka side of docrafts Christmas reindeer/polka paper and again used the black paper to layer the Simply Betty image (I used a 5 euro cent coin and my scalpel to make the photo corners).

Betty was coloured using promarkers and I added a little detail on her costume with black stickles. The stars and dots (these were the centre of a button die) were glitter card I got in tesco cut out with my cuttlebug. The black 21 letters were also cut out with my cuttlebug and black stickles added for a little glamour.

Im very proud of my die cut label because I used my new cameo silhouette to cut the label in black and then reduced it in size and added the writing so it would have the negative effect of the writing showing through, I then used my white gel pen from Paperchase to fill in the A, E and O letters. Although there were a few moments of frustration and a few sheets of paper wasted, I think it turned out really well for my first proper play with the silhouette. I think the black gem brads just finished it of nicely.

I couldn't get a white envelope anywhere so I customized a brown one with a star stamp, I did get a little carried away :-)

I'd love to enter my card into some challenges

Craft your passion: All that Glitters
Daisy doodles: anything goes
Papermakeupstamps: digi makeover
Love to create challenge: All that glitters
Make it Monday: Anything goes
Ooh la la creations: sparkle-and shine
Song bird: Age card
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/challenge-100-celebrations.html
As for Miss Maggie, she got the biggest bone from the pet shop today, munch munch :-)

Thank you so much for having a look xox